Combination tobacco pipe and smoke dilution valve

ABSTRACT

A pipe combination including a valve interposed between (a) tobacco burning in a combustion zone at the base of a pipe bowl and (b) the mouthpiece of the pipe, the valve accommodating selective reduction of the quantity of smoke delivered from the burning tobacco while simultaneously combining the reduced volume of smoke with a make-up volume of air. A one-way check valve system is also provided whereby exhalation can be forced into the burning tobacco in the combustion zone to support the combustion. Ash from the pipe bowl is discharged from a trap door in the base of the pipe bowl.

Strong Apr. 1, 1975 COMBINATION TOBACCO PIPE AND SMOKE DILUTION VALVE[76] Inventor: Kline D. Strong, 1726 Countryside Dr., Salt Lake City,Utah 84106 [22] Filed: Oct. 9, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 404,843

[52] US. Cl ..131/l93,131/185,131/198 A [51] Int. Cl A24f 01/24, A24f05/04 [58] Field of Search 131/193, 198 A, 185

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 868,496 10/1907 Shoner131/193 2,967,528 1/1961 Kelter 131/198 A 3,270,751 9/1966 Tucker131/198 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,052 0/1890 United Kingdom131/193 Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich Attorney, Agent, or FirmH. RossWorkman; J. Winslow Young [5 7] AB STRA'CT A pipe combination includinga valve interposed between (a) tobacco burning in a combustion zone atthe base of a pipe bowl and (b) the mouthpiece of the pipe, the valveaccommodating selective reduction of the quantity of smoke deliveredfrom the burning tobacco while simultaneously combining the reducedvolume of smoke with a make-up volume of air. A one-way check valvesystem is also provided whereby exhalation can be forced into theburning tobacco in the combustion zone to support the combustion. Ashfrom the pipe bowl is discharged from a trap door in the base of thepipe bowl.

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAPR Hers SHEET 1 OF 3 FIG. I

PATENTEB APR 1 1975 SHEET 2 0F 3 FIG. 3

bM'ENImAPR H975 3 374,393

sum a 95 3 FIG. 5

FIG. 4

COMBINATION TOBACCO PIPE AND SMOKE DILUTION VALVE BACKGROUND 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates to an improved tobacco pipe andmore particularly to an improved tobacco pipe having a novel bowl designand smoke and air dilution valve.

2. The Prior Art It has long been recognized by many that the inhalationof tobacco smoke into the lungs has a deleterious effect on the healthof the smoker. Many substitute systems have been employed by thosewishing to continue to enjoy the pleasurable sensations associated withsmoking while simultaneously reducing the risks associated therewith.Some of these substitute systems have included bypass valves in acigarette holder and also including, on occasion, a dummy cigarette in acigarette holder, elaborate filter systems, and even synthetic tobaccos.

Historically, however, these systems have not proven satisfactory forthe person who desires to smoke a pipe whether for the pleasurablesensation it imparts or for the visual image it renders. Contrary tocigarette tobacco which continues to smolder regardless of the smokersinhalation activity, pipe tobacco may have a higher moisture content andthus tends to be selfextinguishing unless the combustion is continuallyforced by air being drawn into the combustion zone. Conventional bypassvalves preclude an adequate volume of air being drawn into and throughthe tobacco combustion zone when the valve is in its bypass positionwith the result that it becomes very difficult to maintain satisfactorycombustion of the tobacco.

Until this present invention, no system has been known which permits apipe smoker to selectively reduce the volume of smoke delivered to themouthpiece while simultaneously enabling him to maintain satisfactorycombustion of the tobacco since the smoker is able to force adequatevolumes of exhalation into the combustion zone even though the air drawntherein is reduced by restriction of the smoke drawn therefrom.

BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present inventionadvantageously provides a combination of a pipe bowl and smoke dilutionvalve whereby a smoker may selectively reduce the quantity of smokedelivered to the mouthpiece while simultacomparable reduction in thequantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved tobacco pipebowl design wherein combustion of the tobacco occurs in the base of thebowl.

One still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved pipe which enables a smoker to maintain satisfactory combustionof tobacco in the pipe while simultaneously enabling him to reduce thequantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece.

These and other objects of the invention will be more fully understoodfrom the following description and appended claims taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective viewof a presently preferred tobacco pipe embodiment including a smokedilution valve.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective illustration of the bowl of the pipeportions being broken away to reveal internal parts.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the smoke dilution valvewith portions being broken away to reveal more clearly the interiorconstruction of the valve.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-section taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.7

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-section taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now madeto the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numeralsthroughout. The Pipe Bowl Referring to FIG. 1, the pipe generallydesignated 11 comprises a bowl 16, pipe stem 14 and mouthpiece 18. Thevalve 10 is situated, in the illustrated embodiment,

, within pipe stem 14 and will be hereinafter more fully neouslyproviding make-up air to provide the smoker with a comparable totalvolume of inhaled gases even though the volume of smoke is diminished. Acheck valve system forming part of the dilution valve permits exhalationto be forced into a tobacco combustion zone at the base of the pipe bowlto maintain satisfactory combustion of the tobacco. Ash is removed fromthe pipe bowl through a trap door in the base.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providea novel tobacco pipe.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedtobacco pipe combination for permitting a smoker to selectively reducethe quantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece.

Another further object of this invention is to provide a smoke dilutionvalve for a tobacco smoking device operable to provide make-up air tocompensate for a described. The illustrated pipe configuration isillustrative only and any suitable shape or configuration could be used.

Referring now to FIG. 2, one presently preferred embodiment of pipe bowl16 is shown to include a trap door 20 at the base of bowl 16 and whichis hingedly connected to pipe bowl 16 by a hinge 22. A notch 24 isprovided whereby trap door 20 may be selectively opened downwardly forthe expulsion of ash and other debris from pipe bowl l6. Trap door 20can be press-fit or otherwise held in the closed position such as byconventional means including a catch (not shown) or spring loading (notshown) in hinge 22.

The pipe is constructed so as to have combustion occur at a combustionzone near the bottom of the bowl. Fresh tobacco is supplied by gravityfrom a tobacco supply at the top of the bowl to the combustion zone. Anignition port 26 is provided through the wall of the base of bowl 16 topermit an igniter (not shown) to be inserted therethrough to ignite thetobacco. Combustion of the tobacco at the base of the bowl 16 issupported both by air drawn from the top of the bowl and throughignition port 26 as well as by exhalation forced into the combustionzone through a bore 28 through stem 14 as will be described more fullyhereinafter.

The Smoke Dilution Valve Referring now to FIG. 3, the smoke dilutionvalve includes a housing 30 which has an inlet port 40 at its distal endand an outlet port 42 at its proximal end. A partition 44 separateshousing 30 into a smoke inlet chamber 46 and a smoke mixing chamber 48.A smoke inflow opening 50 and exhalation opening 52 are formed inpartition 44 and are serially restricted by a moveable cover 54.Moveable cover 54 is selectively positioned in blocking arrangement topartially or totally restrict either of openings 50 and 52 as will nowbe more fully described.

Movement of cover 54 is accomplished through a worm follower (not shownin FIG. 3 but shown as 56 in FIG. 4). The worm follower is attached tocover 54 and engages worm gear 58 on shaft 60. Shaft 60 is rotatable bymeans of knob 62 and, preferentially, rotation is restricted to onedirection (as shown by the arrow on knob 62) by a spring detent 64 whichengages notches 66 in shaft 60 in a ratchet-like manner.

Rotation of shaft 60 by turning knob 62 causes worm follower 56 (FIG. 4)to move to the right (FIG. 3) along the length of shaft 60 and positioncover 54 progressively over opening 50 while simultaneously removingcover 54 from opening 52. An integral part of cover 54 is a flange 68connected at right angles to cover 54 which flange serves as a hold downfor reeds of reed valve 70. Movement of cover 54 to partially occludeopening 50 sequentially permits individual reeds of reed valve 70 toflutter freely as cover 54 is moved to the right (as viewed in FIG. 3).A guide 72 for cover 54 is provided to restrain the upper edge of cover54 against partition 44 whereas worm follower 56 (FIG. 4) cooperatingbetween worm gear 58 and partition 44 accomplishes the same function forthe lower end of cover 54.

A diluent air inlet port 74 is shown in broken lines under reed valve 70and functions to permit ambient air (as indicated by flow stream 75) tobe drawn into mixing chamber 48 to compensate for reduction of smokevolume resulting from occlusion of opening 50 as cover 54 is moved intoan occluding position over opening 50. A unitary reed valve 76 (shown inFIG. 4) prevents movement of smoke (as indicated by flow stream 49) frompassing from inlet chamber 46 through opening 52 into mixing chamber 48.Unitary reed valve 76, on the other hand, extends away from partition 44as shown by dashed lines 76a (FIG. 4) to permit the passage ofexhalation (as indicated by flow stream 53) from mixing chamber 48 intoinlet chamber 46 thence to inlet port 40 and on to the combustion zoneas combined flow stream 51 through bore 28 (as shown in FIG. 2).Exhalation passes through opening 52 and unitary reed valve 76 only whencover 54 is moved into a restricting position over opening 50 partiallyblocking flow stream 55 and simultaneously uncovering opening 52. Thequantity of return air flow 51 that is split between flow streams 53 and55 is dependent upon the degree of movement of cover 54 away fromopening 52 and across opening 50.

Partial or total blockage of opening 50 by movement of cover 54simultaneously moves flange 68 which sequentially releases seriallyinterleaved reeds of reed valve 70 to permit the inflow of air (flowstream 75) into mixing chamber 48 when a negative pressure conditionexists therein. Maintenance of the same volume of air (flow stream 75)and/or smoke/air mixture (flow streams 75 and 49) through exit port 42is thus accomplished through air inlet port 74 since cover 54 restrictsinlet of smoke (flow stream 49) through opening 50 and unitary reedvalve 76 prevents the smoke from passing through opening 52. Movement ofcover 54 progressively covers opening 50 while simultaneously operatingboth to uncover opening 52 and release reeds of reed valve 70.

Referring to FIG. 5, reed valve is more clearly shown to demonstrate theconcept of serially interleaved reeds which are sequentially releasedinto operable position by movement of cover 54 and integral flange 68toward the right in the drawing. The reeds of reed valve 70 areresilient and are spring loaded to the closed position over air inletport 74. In FIG. 5, three reeds of reed valve 70 are shown in the raisedposition to more clearly point out their function. Negative pressureinside mixing chamber 48 permits outside air to force open theunrestricted reeds of reed valve 70 and allows passage of ambient airinto mixing chamber 48. The Method Once having filled the pipe withtobacco, the tobacco is ignited through ignition port 26. As combustionprogresses, additional tobacco from the initial charge of tobacco issupplied by gravity to the combustion zone.

Additional tobacco may be easily supplied to the pipe.

by placing it on top of that already in the bowl, thus obviating theprior art steps of snuffing, scraping and otherwise cleaning the bowlbefore it can be recharged. Cleaning, when necessary, is easilyaccomplished by removal of the residue through trap door 20.

It is well-known that a sustained combustion of pipe tobacco requiresrepeated drafts of air which are generally supplied (in conventionalpipes) by the smoker sucking air into the pipe bowl. However, since thepresent invention is operable to reduce the quantity of smoke deliveredto the mouthpiece, this will necessarily mean a lesser quantity of airbeing drawn into the combustion zone to support combustion of thetobacco. Structure has been provided by this invention to enable thesmoker to return substantially the same quantity of oxygen viaexhalation to the combustion zone while at the same time reducing thequantity of smoke delivered to the mouthpiece. Thus, by merely blowinggently into the pipe stem, the smoker is able to sustain and control thedegree of combustion of the tobacco.

Although the quantity of smoke is selectively reduced by the smoker, thetotal volume of gaseous products, both smoke and diluent air, inhaledremains substantially constant since a bypass air inlet 74 is providedwhich permits the inrush of air into the mixing chamber 48 when thesmoke opening 50 is partially restricted causing a partial vacuum to becreated in mixing chamber 48. Reeds of reed valve 70 operate to permitthe inflow of air into mixing chamber 48 under these conditions and alsoprevent the outflow of air through air inlet 74 when positive pressureis exerted upon mixing chamber 48.

Positive pressure in mixing chamber 48 from forceful exhalation by thesmoker forces air through any portion remaining uncovered of smokeopening 50 and also forces open valve 76 into a position represented bybroken lines 76a. Regardless of the position of cover 54, the smoker is,therefore, able to supply a suitable quantity of oxygen in exhalation tothe combustion zone of the tobacco to maintain satisfactory combustion.The ability to force adequate exhalation to the combustion zone is ofparticular importance in this invention since the combustion zone is atthe bottom of the tobacco and not exposed to theambient as inconventional pipes.

Advantageously, the present invention enables a person to continue toreceive non-smoke related pleasurable sensations associated with smokinga pipe while simultaneously reducing the quantity of smoke delivered tothe mouthpiece. Thus, the person is able to continue to affect a pipe aspart of his personal environment, costume, image or the like, whiledecreasing the degree of contact that he has with the tobacco smoke.

Additionally, this invention enables a person who desires to completelydiscontinue smoking a pipe to selectively reduce the quantity of smokedelivered to the mouthpiece. Eventually, a person is able to eliminateany smoke being delivered to the mouthpiece while continuing to use thetobacco pipe in the conventional manner. In this way, any nervousmannerisms a smoker may have will prove harmless since no smoke isdelivered to the mouthpiece whenever, by force of habit, he prepares andignites the tobacco pipe of this invention.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodimentis to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and notrestrictive and the scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated bythe appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by US. Letters Patent is:

1. A tobacco pipe comprising in combination:

a tobaccoreceiving bowl having a combustion zone adjacent the basethereof;

a smoke dilution valve comprising means for diluting smoke with make upvolumes of air by obstructing delivery of smoke obtained from acombustion zone in the bowl and substituting a replacement quantity ofair; and

means providing a unidirectional exhalation path including check valves,the path extending from a mouthpiece to the combustion zone forsupplying exhalation directly to the combustion zone without significantloss of exhalation to the ambient.

2. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 1 wherein said tobacco pipe bowlcomprises a pipe bowl with means located in the base thereof for removalof tobacco ashes from the pipe bowl.

3. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 1 wherein said tobacco pipe bowlhas an ignition port through a wall of said tobacco pipe bowl and incommunication with said tobacco combustion zone.

4. A tobacco pipe operable to selectively reduce and dilute with air aquantity of tobacco smoke produced in a tobacco combustion zone anddelivered to a mouthpiece while simultaneously maintaining suitabletobacco combustion by permitting return air flow through the valve fromthe mouthpiece to the tobacco combustion zone, comprising:

a. a tobacco pipe bowl with a tobacco combustion zone in the basethereof;

b. a mouthpiece having a bore therethrough communicating between themouthpiece and the tobacco combustion zone; and

c. a smoke dilution valve interposed in the bore and comprising:

1. a compartment, a partition separating the compartment into asmoke'receiving chamber and a smoke mixing chamber;

2. means accommodating unidirectional displacement of exhalation fromthe mouthpiece through the smoke mixing chamber into the smoke dilutionchamber thence toward the tobacco combustion zone, in seriatim;

3. means for admitting air into the smoke mixing chamber; and

4. means for controlling the air/smoke mixture.

5. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 4 wherein said partition containsmeans providing at least two openings wherein a first opening meansserves as a smoke passageway from a smoke receiving chamber into thesmoke mixing chamber and a second opening means serves to accommodateunidirectional displacement of air serially through the bore from themouthpiece toward the tobacco combustion zone.

6. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 5 wherein said second openingmeans cooperates in conjunction with a secondary valve means operable topermit passage of air into a smoke receiving chamber from the smokemixing chamber when a greater positive pressure exists in the smokemixing chamber upon exhalation being forced into the smoke mixingchamber.

7. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 5 wherein said first opening meansis selectively occludable, a moveable cover for selectively occludingthe first opening means, movement of said moveable cover beingaccomplished by rotation of a worm gear to which the moveable cover isengaged, rotation of the worm gear being selectively controlledexteriorly of said smoke dilution valve.

8. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 7 wherein said moveable coverincludes a worm follower which engages a worm gear, rotation of the wormgear causing longitudinal movement of the worm follower and moveablecover, said movement being in a direction parallel to the axis of theworm gear, a rachet engaging a shaft of the worm gear so as to restrictrotation of the worm gear to one direction.

9. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for admittingair into the smoke mixing chamber comprises a port communicating withthe ambient and cooperating with means providing a third valve meanscomprising a reed valve comprising a series of individ ual reedsoverlapping along one edge in seriatim and means for releasablyrestraining said reeds along one end thereof.

10. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 9 wherein said means forreleasably restraining said reeds comprises a flange integral with saidmeans for controlling the air/- smoke mixture.

11. A generally vertically directed tobacco pipe bowl having an openupper end and a stem extending substantially perpendicularly therefromat a base portion thereof comprising means providing a tobaccocombustion chamber adjacent said base; means at the base of the bowl forproviding access from the exterior of the bowl to the interior of thebowl; means providing a substantially straight smoke passageway in saidstem and through said base providing fluid communication therebetween;and means providing an ignition port ment quantities for obstructedquantities of smoke and the valve body including means accommodating aunidirectional exhalation path for passage of substantially allexhalation which may be forced through the valve in a second direction,the second direction being substantially reverse to the first directionand communicating directly with a combustion zone in the pipe bowlthrough said passage means.

1. a compartment, a partition separating the compartment into a smokereceiving chamber and a smoke mixing chamber;
 1. A tobacco pipecomprising in combination: a tobacco-receiving bowl having a combustionzone adjacent the base thereof; a smoke dilution valve comprising meansfor diluting smoke wIth make up volumes of air by obstructing deliveryof smoke obtained from a combustion zone in the bowl and substituting areplacement quantity of air; and means providing a unidirectionalexhalation path including check valves, the path extending from amouthpiece to the combustion zone for supplying exhalation directly tothe combustion zone without significant loss of exhalation to theambient.
 2. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 1 wherein said tobaccopipe bowl comprises a pipe bowl with means located in the base thereoffor removal of tobacco ashes from the pipe bowl.
 2. means accommodatingunidirectional displacement of exhalation from the mouthpiece throughthe smoke mixing chamber into the smoke dilution chamber thence towardthe tobacco combustion zone, in seriatim;
 3. A tobacco pipe as definedin claim 1 wherein said tobacco pipe bowl has an ignition port through awall of said tobacco pipe bowl and in communication with said tobaccocombustion zone.
 3. means for admitting air into the smoke mixingchamber; and
 4. means for controlling the air/smoke mixture.
 4. Atobacco pipe operable to selectively reduce and dilute with air aquantity of tobacco smoke produced in a tobacco combustion zone anddelivered to a mouthpiece while simultaneously maintaining suitabletobacco combustion by permitting return air flow through the valve fromthe mouthpiece to the tobacco combustion zone, comprising: a. a tobaccopipe bowl with a tobacco combustion zone in the base thereof; b. amouthpiece having a bore therethrough communicating between themouthpiece and the tobacco combustion zone; and c. a smoke dilutionvalve interposed in the bore and comprising:
 5. A tobacco pipe asdefined in claim 4 wherein said partition contains means providing atleast two openings wherein a first opening means serves as a smokepassageway from a smoke receiving chamber into the smoke mixing chamberand a second opening means serves to accommodate unidirectionaldisplacement of air serially through the bore from the mouthpiece towardthe tobacco combustion zone.
 6. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 5wherein said second opening means cooperates in conjunction with asecondary valve means operable to permit passage of air into a smokereceiving chamber from the smoke mixing chamber when a greater positivepressure exists in the smoke mixing chamber upon exhalation being forcedinto the smoke mixing chamber.
 7. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 5wherein said first opening means is selectively occludable, a moveablecover for selectively occluding the first opening means, movement ofsaid moveable cover being accomplished by rotation of a worm gear towhich the moveable cover is engaged, rotation of the worm gear beingselectively controlled exteriorly of said smoke dilution valve.
 8. Atobacco pipe as defined in claim 7 wherein said moveable cover includesa worm follower which engages a worm gear, rotation of the worm gearcausing longitudinal movement of the worm follower and moveable cover,said movement being in a direction parallel to the axis of the wormgear, a rachet engaging a shaft of the worm gear so as to restrictrotation of the worm gear to one direction.
 9. A tobacco pipe as definedin claim 4 wherein said means for admitting air into the smoke mixingchamber comprises a port communicating with the ambient and cooperatingwith means providing a third valve means comprising a reed valvecomprising a series of individual reeds overlapping along one edge inseriatim and means for releasably restraining said reeds along one endthereof.
 10. A tobacco pipe as defined in claim 9 wherein said means forreleasably restraining said reeds comprises a flange integral with saidmeans for controlling the air/smoke mixture.
 11. A generally verticallydirected tobacco pipe bowl havIng an open upper end and a stem extendingsubstantially perpendicularly therefrom at a base portion thereofcomprising means providing a tobacco combustion chamber adjacent saidbase; means at the base of the bowl for providing access from theexterior of the bowl to the interior of the bowl; means providing asubstantially straight smoke passageway in said stem and through saidbase providing fluid communication therebetween; and means providing anignition port communicating between the combustion zone and the exteriorof the bowl.
 12. A smoking device including a smoke dilution valve incombination with a tobacco pipe bowl having a stem connected thereto,said device having means for diluting smoke from a smoke source withair, smoke passage means extending from said bowl through said stem, thevalve having a body comprising means for obstructing said smoke passagemeans in a first direction through the valve body and substituting airin replacement quantities for obstructed quantities of smoke and thevalve body including means accommodating a unidirectional exhalationpath for passage of substantially all exhalation which may be forcedthrough the valve in a second direction, the second direction beingsubstantially reverse to the first direction and communicating directlywith a combustion zone in the pipe bowl through said passage means.